Marinette stood side stage as fog filled the floor. All the dancers, bar herself, were dressed up in full hair and make up ready to perform this week's group routine. There was no reason for Marinette to be there, afterall, because of her injury Luka was taking the additional space and it wasn't like they had a dress run through or anything.

It was just Thursday night, night of the professional performance filming. After much persuasion from Adrien she was here, on the side stage, watching the chaos circle around her. Adrien was adamant he wouldn't be able to perform without her being there. That she was his lucky charm and he'd fail big time without her help. She dug one hand into her coat pocket and felt around. There, sitting peacefully, was a gift. A gift she had made to pass onto Adrien. An array of smooth shapes twisted between her fingers as she spun them on the thick piece of red string.

"It must be awful to have to watch on the side lines, but I suppose today will be good practise for when you're out of the competition."

Marinette turned her head to come face to face with Lila. Her hair had been curled and backcombed, her makeup fierce and an orange dress wrapped perfectly around her body. Each section of silk hung masterfully and rhinestones exaggerating the overall design of the dress. Marinette couldn't help but marvel at the way Lila looked. As much as she hated the girl, Gabriel had dressed her wonderfully, and it made her sick.

"Whatever you say, Lila." Marinette patted herself on the back mentally, proud of herself for remaining calm.

"You know, next week Adrien will finally make the right choice. You've worked hard to get your claws into him, but we all know famous men can't help a woman willing to give them everything they want."

"He's not a toy, Lila. You can't just play with him. He has feelings, you know."

Lila laughed and Marinette felt her insides squirm.

"Oh, I know that. My father-in-law has told me all about his 'feelings'. Oh sorry, am I getting ahead of myself? He hasn't proposed yet, but after last night I'm quite sure Adrien is smitten with me. He couldn't keep his hands to himself."

Marinette gulped, feeling tiny pin pricks in the back of her eyes. That can't be true? Can it? She'd spent the night with Luka as Adrien had an event to attend as part of the 'Gabriel' brand. Marinette hadn't been invited, and she was quite sure Lila hadn't been either.

"Yeah," Marinette snorted, "sure."

"Don't believe me, do you?" Lila pulled out her phone and opened an application, which Marinette was sure, was a UK gossip site.

The picture in front of her took the breath right out of her lungs, as there for everyone to see was Adrien in a three piece suit looking stunning with Lila joined onto him with an arm threaded through his. She looked stunning; an asymmetric black strapless dress and matching heels. Marinette couldn't pull her eyes from the two of them, beaming smiles on two stunning people. Her stomach dropped as did her heart.

That wasn't the worst though. The headline in big bold letters told Marinette everything she didn't want to know.

ADRIEN AGRESTE FALLS VICTIM TO THE STRICTLY CURSE.

Her eyes scanned the article.

Adrien Agreste seems smitten with Lila Rossi.

Seen canoodling in the corner of the venue.

Left together in a tight embrace.

Adrien had lipstick smeared over his face.

Each line hit her harder as she fought to keep her tears in bay. Her eyes were stinging and she just wanted to go home. She didn't need to be here and at the moment she didn't want to be either.

A picture finished the article with Adrien more disheveled than when he entered pulling a grinning Lila behind him, and just as the article said 'lipstick smeared over his face' his thumb poised as though he was rubbing it off.

"What's wrong Marinette? Thought someone as famous and handsome as Adrien Agreste would be bothered with a 'nobody' like you? Please! His father has already hired me as a model for when the show finishes, you know, to keep the brand in the family."

Marinette looked between Lila and the article still displayed on the phone. A tear streaking down her face.

"No need to cry, Marinette. There are plenty of losers out there for girls like you."

A producer ran up to Lila asking her to take her place on set so they could begin to rehearse the opening.

"See you around."

Lila left Marinette with a cackle, the woman was made for Halloween Week. Though personally, if it was up to Marinette she'd slightly alter the word 'witch' by changing the first letter.

"Hey peg leg," Luka was next to arrive at Marinette's side. Fully kitted out in a green netted costume. He looked stunning as usual, opting out of his blue hair ends for green instead.

He looked at Marinette and instantly threw an arm around her shoulder.

"Hey M, what's wrong? Why are you crying? Do I look that crap?"

Marinette wiped under her eyes and attempted to smile at her friend.

"It's nothing, just something stupid."

"It's not stupid if this is how it's made you feel. Tell me, what's wrong?"

The timing of this question couldn't have been better as at that moment Adrien walked onto the dance floor from a different entrance to where Marinette was conversing with Luka.

The stand-in dancer watched as Marinette trailed her eyes from Adrien to Lila, sucking in her lower lip as Adrien went to talk to the 'witch' with a capital B.

"M, do you trust me?" Luka asked, pulling Marinette's attention back towards him.

"Of course, why would you ask something like that?"

"Then let this go."

"Let what go?" Marinette questioned looking back over to Adrien. He turned his head and caught her eye line, his mouth opening then closing, a look in his eyes she'd never seen him display before.

She looked away and focused on Luka. Focused on someone who was actually a friend.

"Adrien and Lila."

Marinette huffed and Luka grabbed her shoulders.

"Marinette please, don't be rash and don't do anything stupid, I know what you're like."

"Why?" She questioned.

"I can't tell you at the moment." Luka looked away and noticed Adrien was starting to approach. He held out his hand to stop the model and indicate that now was not a good time.

"Why can't people tell me about the things which are affecting me! This is stupid!"

"No M, at the moment it's best you're the innocent party to all of this. We won't do anything to jeopardize your career!"

"We? My career? Luka, I don't know what you're playing at but I don't like being left in the dark."

"Well this time you're going to have to be. You can't always control everything and for once you can't control this, so back off." Luka spun on his heel and made his way over to the rest of the performers ready to rehearse.

Marinette was seething. Why was everyone willing to put themselves on the line but she couldn't. She wanted to help, and now with a bad ankle there wasn't a lot she could do.

She sat down and watched the opening performance, still angry at her friends.

The professional performance for Halloween was extremely entertaining and Marinette was gutted to not be part of the group. There were only four male stars left in the competition and at the moment each were suited in an all in one boiler suit with a proton pack attached to their back.

The professionals were dressed as many ghouls, whilst the few remaining female stars were 'damsels in distress' needing to be saved. She sat and watched, wishing to join them. Everyone was laughing and joking around and she'd never felt so left out before.

She watched closely as Luka (her stand in) was approaching Adrien ready for their section of the dance. They had a hip hop style to do between them; Dr Venkman vs Slimer.

The raven haired dancer was in awe as she watched the two run and flip around each other. Earlier in the week it had come out that Adrien was a keen parkourer. Apparently, because of him being stuck in his room, he took the time to learn to jump and flip off his furniture. Luka had marvelled to her about the intense moves Adrien could pull and watching him now, as he rolled over Luka's back, she couldn't help being amazed too.

The guys looked amazing together. Perfectly in sync and yet both also complimented each other. She was jealous of how good they looked and knew the two dancing together would cause a stir from the audience.

Luka had taken Adrien's arm, twisting him around before flipping him over in a suicide onto his back. Adrien took the opportunity to look shocked and confused, before nipping up and throwing Luka around his shoulders, spinning with him and rolling him down his back. Both backed away from each other before running at full speed, Adrien leapfrogging the now green haired dancer and pushing him off the stage dramatically.

Marinette had never been on this side of the dance floor before and watching Adrien was magical. She could understand what the press were saying and why he was gaining so much support. The music ended and she couldn't help the tears streaming down her cheeks again. She wanted to be the only one to dance with him, she couldn't believe she was jealous of Luka but she was. Adrien was her partner, and she was determined not to lose him.

"Is it that bad?" Adrien had come over to sit next to her as the professionals were practising their section without the celebrities.

"Why are you asking me? I'm sure your girlfriend could tell you." Marinette didn't want to sound petty, but here she was. The pettiest she'd ever been in her life.

Adrien sighed and went to rub his hands down his face, catching himself at the last moment remembering his hair and makeup was already set for filming.

"She's not and will never be my girlfriend. It's ... complicated."

"Ha! I'm sure it is." She eyed Adrien once over, raising an eyebrow in challenge.

He sighed and shook his head. He couldn't answer and it only added to her fury.

What the hell was wrong with everyone? Did they think she was weak? She was strong, and they knew she was. It was infuriating that they were keeping her in the dark.

The cast were shouted together into the centre of the floor for one last prep talk before filming and Marinette could tell Adrien was reluctant to leave her. He took a step forwards and stopped himself turning back.

"I just wanted you to know that I'm only trying to help. I swear. I've never been in a situation like this before. I've never made my own friends. It's all sort of new to me."

Marinette watched in complete confusion as he walked away to join the others. One thought crossed her mind ...

What has Adrien done?

•••••
▪️Time to vote ▪️

So this story can now go one of two ways from the next chapter. It can continue being fluffy and happy, or I can add more drama to it but it'll take it to a PG-13 rating as it'll deal with something deep. Let me know what you think.

❤️ Keep fluffy
🖤 PG-13 Drama (it's nothing too bad and it will be fixed eventually)